The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1887-01-13
A Manly Letter.

We publish in another column extracts
giving the salient points of a letter recent
ly published in the WytheyiIle Enterprise
from Gen. James A. Walker It is fear
less, manly declaration of convictions as
to tile important interests Of Virginia
and the South, and the legislation neoes-
sary to conserve them. The views he ex-
presses reflect the sentiments of four
fifths of the voters of the State, but which
have not found utterance, either through
the press or at the ballot box, because Of
the deep seated prejudices which have
heretofore subordinated all other oonsids
erations. Gen. Walker has taken q bold,
brave step, and looking to the welfare Of
his native State. he does not hesitate to
condemn the policy of his party both in
State and Nation. The Richm ond Wing,
while endorsing in the main the letter of
Gen. Walker, says that he will commit a
great binder if he ahandons the Dem
ooratic party because he. disapproyes
of some of the actions and policies
of its leaders,. Were it simply few
leaders that the General would have to
condemn, the Wla6a might be right. But
it is the factions and policieso Of the
party itself, both in-its national platform,
it's record in Congress, and the formal an
nouncements Of the President and Secre-
tary of the Treasury in official commune
cations, which confront all who believe in
tho i,,sJ,,c+riaI prorrocc IF fbo oo,,ptrv
The Wing knows that it cannot rely upon
the Democratic party to carry out it's
views, or those expressed by Gen. Walker.
It knows that two-thirds of the party are
in alignment with Morrison, Carlisle,
Cleveland and Manning. on the tariff and
internal revenue, and to act with ii is
merely to consent to a public injury and
wrong, because of party name. There
is no patriotism. no true manhood in such
a course. If convictions are to be re-
speeted-if principles and policies are
right, it is the duty of those who believe
in them to seek to enforce them through
the most available and effective means.
Not to do SO, would lie a surrender of
convictions to indefensible prejudice and
make secondary the great interests Of the
Commonwealth and country to partizan
necessities. The Whig knows this 1t
knows that its own expressed views are in
direct conflict with those Of a majority of
its party, and that this majority will rule
whenever the party makes its formal
avoWals. What is theyuse of convictions
if they are to be thus suppressed
Gen. Walker has taken the manly, pa.
triotc course. His position would be en-
dorsed to-day by $4,000 majority Of the
people of Virginia. He is the brayest
and ablest man in the Democratic party
in Virginia at this time, and leaving it he
would carry with him host of the true
manhood OF. the State, which has suffered
itself to be lead imperceptibly and without
thinking, by a few sobeming demagogues
and mercenary time-servers. The Demo
cratic party as now constit uted, has been
an unmitigated curse to the State, and
the impartial judgment of the intelligent
people of the State will so concede, when
it finds utterance. Gen. Walker has ney-
er struck more important and effective
blow ip behalf Of his native State, than
he has in the letter to which We refer. 1t
will make him the most popular man in
the Commonwealth aud give him an in
fluence and prestige that can be used to
promote the welfare Of the people and the
State.
1t is very plain, when we read the ex,
tracts from the Atlanta Constitution, pro-
claiming for protection, and such letter
IS Gen. Jim Walker recently addressed to
he Wytheville Enterprise, announcing his
purpose to fayorno party or candidate that
loes not favor the protective policy and
he repeal of the internalreyenue tax, that |
he Democratic PARTY ia on its last legs in |